Open Collections

Heaslip, Sean Richard

University of British Columbia

Persons with visual impairments are frequently the recipients of unsolicited help. Research on the subject of intergroup helping and the power dynamics involved has proliferated over the past three decades, capturing a more nuanced picture of helping as an interaction between unequal parties, rather than a discrete benevolent act towards someone in need. One group that has gone under-considered with respect to the impact of intergroup relations is persons with disabilities, and specifically persons with visual impairments. The present study is an exploratory qualitative investigation of unsolicited helping interactions that centres the lived experience of the recipients. Twelve persons with visual impairments participated in semi-structured interviews using the enhanced critical incident technique (ECIT). Much of the research on unsolicited helping targets specifically unwelcome help (e.g., overhelping, inappropriate, unwanted help, patronizing, and assumptive help), however, the present study allowed for the presence of welcomed unsolicited helping. The ECIT is a method well-suited for the exploration of under-researched topics, and has been used with marginalized groups in the past. In this study, it was used in the exploration of what helped, hindered, or what would have been helpful to persons with visual impairments when navigating unsolicited helping interactions. Results highlight aspects of unsolicited helping interactions as experienced by the recipient, and incidents and Wishlist items specific to the helper’s approach, and the recipient’s response that centre on themes of the role of assumptions, the importance of consent, and being treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect. Findings are discussed with an eye towards generating recommendations for helpers, strategies employed by recipients with visual impairments, and implications for policy, practice, and future research.

Text

2024-03-20

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87601

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/